Violin peg



E; R; STQNE VIOLIN PEG Filed June 19. 1946 Patented Nov. 2, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VIOLIN PEG Eugene R. Stone, Washington, D. 0.

Application June 19, 1946, Serial No. 677,801

12- Claims. 1

This invention relates to turnable finger pieces such as violin pegs and more particularly to the finger grip elements of said pieces.

The finger grip elements of violin pegs and other turnable finger pieces are generally in the form of a fiat, round web portion mounted axially on one end of the peg or shaft portion so that the opposite faces of the web portion may be gripped between the thumb and the index finger for the purposes of turning the peg on its axis to tune the violin string associated with that peg. This type of peg is not exclusive with violins but is used on all types of stringed musical instruments. It frequently happens that the web is turned to such an angle that it is very diflicult to grip and turn while the violin is being held in playing position. In such instances, the player usually removes the violin from beneath his chin in order to turn the peg, in which event he has to guess as to the amount the peg must be turned. The player then returns the violin to playing position in order to determine whether the string has been tightened to the proper degree. Frequently this operation must be repeated several times before the string is properly tuned. Of course, some of the time, the finger grip web portion will lie at such an angle that it can be gripped and proper leverage obtained without distorting the wrist and arm, while the violin is held in playing position. Fifty per cent of the angular position of the web portion, however, lies at such an angle that the arm and wrist must be extended and distorted in order to grip the web between the fingers and, in this position, the average player is unable to apply the necessary leverage pressure to properly turn the peg to the desired degree.

Having in mind the defects of the prior art apparatus it is an object of this invention to provide finger grip portions for turnable finger pieces, such as violin pegs, which may be readily gripped between the fingers, so that the proper leverage may be applied, regardless of the position or angle in which the pieces are positioned. It is contemplated that a web type of finger grip element will be provided with web portions lying in a plurality of axially displaced planes so that one of the web portions may easily be gripped between the fingers regardless of the angle at which the peg is positioned. Although the web element should comprise a plurality of angularly displaced portions, the element as a whole should be substantially the same overall size as the usual prior art single web member.

The foregoing objects and others ancillary thereto are preferably accomplished, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, by a violin peg having two finger grip web portions positioned at right angles to each other and mounted axially of each other on the end of the shaft portion of the peg. In view of the fact that leverage is obtained by the diametrical width of the web, this dimension is retained at substantially the same measurement as the usual prior art webs. The axial length of the web portion is reduced, however, so as to provide only sufficient room to accommodate the fingers, and consequently the axial length of the two right-angular web portions is substantially the same or only slightly greater than the axial length of the usual prior art member. When a peg comprising the construction of the present invention is mounted in the peg box of a violin, a finger gripping web portion is always presented at an angle which permits ready and easy gripping by the violin player while the violin is retained in playing position, and without extending or distorting the arm or the wrist, Consequently, the player may quickly tune the strings of the violin without removing the instrument from playing position and thereby permittingthe sounding of the strings as they are tuned.

According to a modified form of the invention, the finger grip web portion is twisted about the axis of the peg through an angle of so that the end portions of the web are positioned at right angles to each other. This arrangement provides a continuously angularly changing web which may be gripped at a number of different angles rather than at the four angles provided by the preferred embodiment. While this structure has a distinct advantage over the prior art arrangement, it has the disadvantage, with respect to the preferred embodiment, in that two.

varieties of the peg, having reverse spirals, should be provided for use on opposite sides of the peg box of the violin.

The novel features that are considered characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout, and in which: V

Fig. l-is a fragmentary view in perspective of the peg box of a violin having the usual type of prior art pegs positioned therein;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side view in elevation of the peg box of a violin, that is being held in playing position, with the players hand gripping the web of a prior art peg, to illustrate the awkward position of the players wrist and arm that must be assumed in order to apply sufiicient leverage to turn the peg;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in perspective, corresponding to Fig. 1, of a peg box having pegs incorporating the present invention mounted therein;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side view in elevation, similar to that shown in Fig. 2, showing the undistorted position of the players arm and wrist when employing a peg comprising the present invention that is mounted in exactly the same angular position as the prior art peg shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a side view in perspective of a peg comprising the preferred form of finger grip;

Fig. 6 is a side view in elevation of the peg shown in Fig. 5;

Fig, 7 is an end view in elevation of the peg shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a side view in elevation of a peg comprising a modified form of finger grip; and

Fig. 9 is an end view in elevation of the modified finger grip shown in Fig. '7.

A violin peg or other turnable finger piece to overcome the defects hereinbefore enumerated should have the totally distinct characteristic of being capable of being gripped between the fingers, regardless of the angle at which the peg is positioned, with facility and without distortion of the arm or wrist. In order to better illustrate the advantages of the present invention, a pictorial comparison is made, referring specifically to the drawing, between Figs. 1 and 2 showing the .1.

prior art apparatus and Figs. 3 and 4, which are substantially identical respectively, showing the present invention.

Referring specifically to Fig. l the peg box H! of a violin has a plurality of pegs I I mounted therein which are provided with the usual prior art finger grip portions l2. These finger grip portions l2 are flat, oval web portions having their longer dimensions diametrical to the axis of the peg ll. When the plane of the web I2 is turned to a position that approaches the plane of the violin, it is more or less horizontal when the instrument is in playing position and there fore in dead center. In Fig. 2 the structure illustrated in Fig. 1 is shown with the violin being held in playing position and with the players hand in the position that is necessary to turn the peg. It will be seen that with the web portion l2 positioned at the angle shown, the player must extend his arm and distort his wrist in order to grip the web portion l2 between the thumb and index finger in the manner that would permit the application of the proper leverage to turn the peg.

With the arm and wrist in the position shown, however, it is very difiicult to apply the necessary pressure to .turn the peg the desired degree. In the first place, it is difiicult to apply any leverage pressure when the arm and wrist are in these distorted positions. Secondly, with undue exertion the necessary pressure may be applied but there is very little, if any, control, due to the distension of the muscles, and consequently, the peg is not turned the proper degree. In view of these conditions the average player custom arily removes the violin from playing position to turn the pegs when their webs are positioned at awkward angles.

It is more desirable to tune the strings by turn-- ing the pegs while the violin is retained in playing position because the strings can be sounded as they are turned and the player can immediately ascertain when the proper pitch is reached. When the player has to remove the violin from playing position to turn the pegs, however, he must guess as to the degree to which the peg should be turned, and then return the instrument to playing position in order to sound the string. Frequently this operation has to be repeated several times before the string is properly tuned.

According to the present invention, however, with specific reference to Fig. 3, the pegs l4 have finger grips 15 that comprise two flat web 01' wing portions 16 and I! that are spaced axially of the peg or shank l4 and displaced, respectively, about its axis approximately and consequently lie at right angles to each other, so that the extending edge portions of the Wings 16 and I! on opposite sides of the axis of the peg or shank M are spaced about said axis approximately 90 apart. By this arrangement a web portion is brought to gripping position every quarter turn, thus approximating the efficiency of a twoway ratchet but avoiding its complicated mechanism. As shown in Fig. 4 one of the web portions I! may conveniently be gripped by the player even though the peg is in the identical angular position of the corresponding peg shown in Fig. 2.

It will be seen in Fig. 4 that the players arm and wrist are in natural positions that permit him to apply the desired leverage pressure without difficulty while the instrument is in playing position. In this manner the string may be sounded as it is tuned. The prior art single web may be conveniently gripped at only two angular positions, whereas the present invention, by means of a plurality of webs, may be conveniently gripped at any angular position. The present arrangement makes possible finer control and more expeditious adjustment of the peg, in any position of its grip, while the'instrument is in playing position, by confining the muscular effort to the thumb and finger while the hand, wrist and arm are in natural and unstrained positions.

It is to be noted that the only dimension of the finger grip webs that is of material importance is the diametrical width, as leverage is obtained by applying pressure to its opposite outer edges. The axial length of the web is immaterial with respect to leverage so long as there is enough surface area to accommodate the finger and thumb of the hand, and the single webs I2 of the prior art pegs have been designed as such primarily as a matter of appearance. It is desirable, however, that the over-all size of the finger grips of the present invention should not be substantially greater than that of the prior art elements. If the web portions [6 and I! each had an axial length and over-all size, comparable to that of theweb portions [2 of the prior art peg, the pegs l4 would have a substantially increased axial length that might not permit the enclosing of a violin within the confines of its case, and furthermore would look cumbersome and ungainly until the eye had become accustomed to them.

Consequently, as best shown in Fig. 6, the axial length of each of the web portions [6 and I! is substantially reduced over that ([2) of the prior art so that their combined axial length is not substantially greater than that of the prior art web 12, which is indicated in broken lines. This reduction in axial length is accomplished by cutting angularly into the. webs l6 and I! to form shoulders l8 and [9. The axial length of the inner webs 16 must only be long enough to accommodate the thickness of the players finger and thumb between the side of the peg box Ill and the shoulder it of the web portion ll. As a matter of symmetry, the web portions I! are provided with an axial length about the same as that of the webs l6 but it may be shorter as the *players fingers are only confined on one side by the shoulderslfl of the web 16. It will be observed that the axial length of the webs or Wings [6 and I l, proper, are about one-half that of the prior art Web or wing H! but the necessary surface grippable area in length-to accommodate the fore-finger and thumb-is provided by sloping the shoulder or edge portions [8 and 19 to form a broadened merging continuing surface of the gripping area of the web or wing 16 and of the web or wing ll.

This structure retains the simplicity, approximate diameter and aesthetic form of the conventional peg. The objective in design is to provide full inch breadth of webs for turning leverage for four webs, instead of two, with the least possible increase in dimensional bulk. This has been accomplished by side-slipping or offsetting alternate webs to right and left and reversal of the broadest dimension of alternate webs to right and left to eliminate unnecessary bulk that would obtain with full-size V inch spherical or cubical grips.

In a modified form of the invention, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, a peg 20 is provided with a web portion 2| that is twisted spirally about the axis of the peg. In this arrangement the web 2| is twisted spirally through an angle of 90 so that its end portions 22 and 23 lie at right angles to each other. By this arrangement the web extends continuously through a plurality of angles and the players fingers can follow the spiral. With this form of web, however, it is preferred that pegs be provided with two types of webs 2| that are spirally twisted in opposite directions, each type being for use on opposite sides of the violin peg box Ill. Unless the two types are provided, the spirals on opposite sides of the box would be reversed, which might be confusing to the player.

Although certain specific embodiments of the invention are shown and described, it is quite obvious that many modifications thereof are possible. For instance, the present type of finger grips may be advantageously employed with all types of rotatable members such as set screws, particularly for precision instruments, nuts of the wing type and other threaded or turnable elements. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except insofar as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

That which is claimed, as new, is:

l. A tuning peg for violins and other stringed instruments and which consists of a peg or shaft having a finger grip at one end, said finger grip comprising flat web-like axially adjacent portions spaced angularly about the axis of said peg. whereby to provide a readily accessible and conveniently located finger grip regardless of the angular position of said peg and while said instrument is in playing position.

2. A tuning peg for violins and other stringed instruments and which consists of a peg or shaft having a finger grip at one end, said finger grip comprising fiat web-like axially spaced portions positioned at right angles to each other about the axis of said peg, whereby to provide a readily accessible. and conveniently located finger grip regardless of the angular position of said peg and. while said instrument is inplaying position.

3. A tuning peg for violins and other stringed instruments and which consists of a peg or shaft having a finger grip at one end, said finger grip comprising two axially adjacent web or wing sections which are angularly spaced to each other about the axis of said peg, whereby to provide a readily accessible and conveniently, located finger grip regardless of the angular position of said peg and while said instrument is in playing position. I v

4. A tuning peg for violins and other stringed instruments and which consists of a peg or shaft having a finger grip at one end, said finger grip comprising two. fiat oval webs which are axially adjacent but. are angularly spaced 90 to each other about the axis of said peg, said webs having normal diameters but being reduced in axial length so that. their combined axial length is not appreciably greater than the normal axial length of a single circularweb.

5. A tuning peg for violins and other stringed instruments and which consists of a peg or shaft portion having a finger grip portion at one end, said finger grip portion comprising a flat web that is twisted spirally about the axis of the peg, whereby to provide a readily accessible and conveniently located finger grip regardless of the angular position of said peg and while said instrument is in playing position.

6. A tuning peg for violins and other stringed instruments and which consists of a peg or shaft portion having a finger grip portion at one end, said finger grip portion comprising a fiat web that is twisted spirally about the axis of said peg through an angle of 90, whereby to provide a readily accessible and conveniently located finger grip regardless of the angular position of said peg and while said instrument is in playing position.

'7. In a turnable member including a shaft portion and a finger grip portion on one end of said shaft portion, the improvement in said finger grip portion comprising a plurality of fiat web finger grip elements positioned axially of each other and angularly spaced about their axis, whereby to provide a readily accessible and conveniently located finger grip regardless of the angular position of said member.

8. In a turnable member including a shaft portion and a finger grip portion on one end of said shaft portion, the improvement in said finger grip portion comprising a flat web finger grip element lying in a plurality of axially and angularly spaced planes, whereby to provide a readily accessible and conveniently located finger grip regardless of the angular position of said member.

9. A winged manually-turnable member, comprising a shaft or shank having a finger grip thereon, said finger grip comprising fiat axially adjacent wing sections, angularly spaced about the axis of the shaft or shank relative to the next adjacent wing sections.

10. A winged manually-turnable member, comprising a shaft or shank having a finger grip thereon, said finger grip comprising fiat axially adjacent wing sections, angularly spaced about the axis of the shaft or shank relative to the next adjacent wing sections, said axially adjacent wing sections having opposite portions projecting beyond said shaft or shank on opposite sides of the latter, the fiat surfaces of each adjacent wing section merging into the edge portion of the adjacent wing section, thereby increasing the finger grip area afforded by each wing section and reducing the overall axial length of the wing sections.

11. A tuning peg for violins and other stringed instruments which comprises a shank and a winged finger grip integral with one end of the shank, the said finger grip having opposite grip surfaces and being substantially equal in thickness to the shank diameter and considerably wider laterally than thick and more extensive axially than wide and being shaped to form diiierent finger grip portions arranged along the axis of the peg and which are offset angularly around the axis, whereby a plurality of wide and thin finger grip portions are provided to afford considerable leverage at convenient locations regardless of the angular rotated position of the peg while the instrument is in playing position.

12. A tuning peg for violins and other stringed instruments having a shank and a finger grip integral with one end of the shank, the improve- 8 ment comprising said finger grip having portions with substantially flat opposite sides of consider ably greater lateral width than the diameter of the peg and a thickness considerably less than the said width and projecting laterally from diametrically opposite sides of the peg, said portions of said finger grip being spaced adjacently and axially of said peg and extending angularly in different planes intersecting the axis of said peg, whereby a plurality of wide and relatively thin finger grip portions are provided that are accessible regardless of the angular rotated position of the peg while the instrument is in playing position.

EUGENE R. STONE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 234,642 Singer Nov. 16, 1880 510,375 Ayuso Dec. 5, 1893 1,026,228 Severy et al May 14, 1912 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 20,242 Great Britain Oct. 10, 1901 

